Muhammad Mian Soomro

Muhammad Mian Soomro محمد میاں سومرو
President of Pakistan Acting
In office 18 August 2008 – 9 September 2008
Prime Minister	Yousaf Raza Gillani
Preceded by	Pervez Musharraf
Succeeded by	Asif Ali Zardari
Prime Minister of Pakistan
In office 16 November 2007 – 25 March 2008
President	Pervez Musharraf
Preceded by	Shaukat Aziz
Succeeded by	Yousaf Raza Gillani
Chairman of the Senate
In office 9 September 2008 – 11 March 2009
Preceded by	Jan Mohammad Jamali (Acting)
Succeeded by	Farooq Naek
In office 25 March 2008 – 18 August 2008
Preceded by	Jan Mohammad Jamali (Acting)
Succeeded by	Jan Mohammad Jamali (Acting)
In office 23 March 2003 – 16 November 2007
Preceded by	Wasim Sajjad
Succeeded by	Jan Mohammad Jamali (Acting)
Governor of Sindh
In office 25 May 2000 – 26 December 2002
Preceded by	Azim Daudpota
Succeeded by	Ishrat-ul-Ibad Khan
Personal details
Born	19 August 1950 Karachi, Sind, Pakistan (now in Sindh, Pakistan)
Political party	Pakistan Muslim League (Before 1985) Pakistan Muslim League- Functional (1985–1988) Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (1988–2002) Pakistan Muslim League- Quaid (2002–present)
Alma mater	Forman Christian College

Muhammad Mian Soomro (Sindhi: محمد میاں سومرو; born 19 August 1950) is a Pakistani politician who served the Chairman of the Senate of Pakistan from 2003 to 2009. Soomro comes from a renowned political family of Sindh province that has been active in public life since 1923. His father, the late Ahmad Mian Soomro, was a seasoned parliamentarian who was Deputy Speaker of the West Pakistan Assembly and a member of the Senate and helped establish the Senate Committee Systems. He is grandson of Khan Bahadur Haji Moula Bux Soomro, a great political figure. He was the 16th Prime Minister of Pakistan from 16 November 2007 to 25 March 2008 and became the Acting President of Pakistan upon the resignation of Pervez Musharraf on 18 August 2008.

Professional life

Banker

An internationally recognised professional banker, Soomro held various top positions both at home and abroad in national and international organisations.^[1]

He has also worked in important positions for major banks:

• Bank of America
• general manager and chief executive officer of International Bank of Yemen
• Faysal Islamic Bank of Bahrain
• MCB Bank
• Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited formally known as Agriculture Development Bank of Pakistan
• Federal Bank of Cooperatives
• President, National Bank of Pakistan

Soomro earned great recognition for his achievements during his time with these organisations. He was also instrumental in the establishment of microcredit banking in Pakistan.

He also held a position at the board of directors of Shell Pakistan Ltd.

Governorship

Soomro's public service role started with his appointment as the Governor of Sindh on 25 May 2000.

Chairman of the Senate

Soomro resigned from the office of Sindh Governor on 26 December 2002 to contest the Senate elections. He was elected as a Senator on 23 February 2003 and was subsequently elected as Chairman of the Senate on 12 March 2003.

Caretaker Prime Minister

Soomro was appointed as caretaker prime minister on 15 November 2007, at the expiration of the term of the previous prime minister, Shaukat Aziz, ahead of a new parliamentary election.^[2] On 16 November, Soomro was sworn in as prime minister by President Pervez Musharraf.^[3] His term ended on 25 March 2008, when Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani was sworn in as prime minister.

President of Pakistan

As required by the constitution, Soomro (in his position as Chairman of the Senate) automatically became President on 18 August 2008, upon the resignation of Musharraf.^[4] The constitution also required that a new President be elected by Parliament within 30 days.

Asif Ali Zardari was elected President and subsequently sworn in on 9 September 2008,^[5] succeeding Soomro.

Trustee of ILM Trust and Member of UMT Board of Governors

Soomro is a trustee of ILM Trust and member of UMT Board of Governors.^[6] UMT is a private-sector university located in Lahore, Pakistan.

See also

• Acting President of Pakistan
• Establishment (Pakistan)
• Prime Minister of Pakistan
• Chief Justice of Pakistan
• Chief of Army Staff of the Pakistan Army
• Constitution of Pakistan

References

1. DAWN.com "Soomro heads interim govt: Inamul Haq, Ishrat Hussain, Salman Taseer, Nisar Memon, Pir of Taunsa Sharif among ministers"
2. Khalid Qayum and Khaleeq Ahmed, "Musharraf Picks Soomro as Interim Premier Until Polls", Bloomberg.com, 15 November 2007.
3. "Soomro takes oath as Pakistan's caretaker PM", Xinhua (chinadaily.com.cn), 16 November 2007.
4. "Soomro takes over as Pak President", Press Trust of India, 18 August 2008.
5. Jane Perlez, "Bhutto's widower takes office in Pakistan", International Herald Tribune, 9 September 2008.
6. https://www.facebook.com/umtofficial